The complexity, history, and nuances of race in America mean a wealth of material could be identified as essential. A recent explosion of titles plus classics document the multiplicity of the American experience.

For most parents, reading a story aloud to their children is a bond-building experience they wouldn’t trade for anything. Not everyone, though, has that opportunity. “For parents who are incarcerated, and for their children in particular, that loss of connection can take a devastating toll that could last a lifetime,” says Nick Higgins, who spearheaded TeleStory, a program at the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) to help alter this particular unhappy ending.

URBAN NORTH AMERICANS consume a lot of energy each day—per capita, 100 times that of pre­agricultural humans. These 30 resources will connect with readers wanting to enter the energy industry or learn more about techniques and costs.

Spanning two continents, 11 time zones, and more than 100 nationalities, Imperial Russia crumbled in 1917 while the empire was still mired in World War I. These 30 titles will recount Soviet history upon this monumental anniversary.

Authors ranging from veterans of famous conflicts past to modern combatants, reminiscences of battlefield experiences express boredom and loneliness, brutality and compassion, violence and love. These 31 titles will enhance any collection.